33rd Operations Group

33d Operations Group
Active	1940-1965; 1991-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Part of	33d Fighter Wing
Garrison/HQ	Eglin Air Force Base
Motto(s)	Fire From the Clouds
Engagements	World War II European Campaign (1942–1944) Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1944–1945) Expeditionary Service Operation Urgent Fury Operation Just Cause Operation Southern Watch Operation Coronet Macaw Operation Restore Hope Operation Support Justice Operation Uphold Democracy

The 33d Operations Group (33 OG) is the flying component of the 33d Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

Overview

From its activation in December 1991, as part of the 33d Fighter Wing, the 33d Operations Group has deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Jamaica, Iceland, Italy, and Puerto Rico and participated in operations SOUTHERN WATCH, CORONET MACAW; RESTORE HOPE, SUPPORT JUSTICE IV; UPHOLD DEMOCRACY.

These included combat as well as deployments to assist in the US drug war.

The 33 OG lost 13 members in the bombing of Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia on 25 Jun 1996.

Assigned Units

The 33 OG commands two flying squadrons and one support squadron

• 58th Fighter Squadron

The 58th Fighter Squadron has a long and distinguished history that dates back to the aerial battles of World War II. Activated as the 58th Pursuit Squadron (part of the 33rd Pursuit Group) stationed at Mitchel Field, New York, the squadron was charged with the ongoing mission of aerial defense of the United States. When the United States entered World War II, the 58th took an active role in the war effort by participating in several operations during a three year overseas tour.

• 60th Fighter Squadron

Activated in 1940 at Mitchell Field, New York as the 60th Pursuit Squadron, the unit was attached to the 33rd Pursuit Group on January 15, 1941. Re-designated as the 60th Fighter Squadron on May 15, 1942, the unit was responsible for the continual mission of air defense of the United States until October 1942.

• 33rd Operations Support Squadron

Responsible for all facets of airfield operations, or ops, air traffic control, weather, aircrew life support and training, intelligence analysis and support, weapons and tactics training, 33 FW battle staff operations, airspace scheduling, range ops and wing flying hour program.

History

Lineage

• Established as 33 Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940

Activated on 15 Jan 1941

Redesignated 33 Fighter Group on 15 May 1942

Inactivated on 8 Dec 1945

• Activated on 20 Aug 1946

Redesignated 33 Fighter-Interceptor Group on 20 Jan 1950

Inactivated on 6 Feb 1952

• Redesignated 33 Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 Jun 1955

Activated on 18 Aug 1955 by redesignation of 564th Air Defense Group

Inactivated on 18 Aug 1957

• Consolidated (31 Jul 1985) with the 33 Tactical Group, which was established, and activated on 19 Jun 1963

Organized on 8 Jul 1963

Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 Jul 1965

• Redesignated 33 Tactical Fighter Group on 31 Jul 1985 (remained inactive)
• Redesignated 33 Operations Group, and activated, on 1 Dec 1991.

Note: The Air Defense Command 564th Air Base Group was activated on 6 February 1952, replacing the 33d Fighter Group at Otis AFB, Massachusetts. Redesignated 564th Air Defense Group on 16 Feb 1953, the unit was redesignated as the 33d Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 18 Aug 1955 as part of the ADC "Project Arrow", which redesignated notable World War II combat units.

Assignments

• 7 Pursuit Wing, 15 Jan 1941
• 1 Interceptor (later, I Interceptor, I Fighter) Command, 2 Oct 1941
• Philadelphia Air Defense Wing, 11 Aug 1942
• XII Air Support Command, Nov 1942
• XII Fighter Command, 6 Dec 1942
• XII Air Support Command, 13 Jan 1943
• XII Air Force Service Command, 18 Feb 1943
• XII Bomber Command, 1 Mar 1943
• 47 Bombardment Wing, 3 Mar 1943
• XII Air Support Command, 14 Mar 1943
• 3 Air Defense (later, 64 Fighter) Wing, 24 Jul 1943
• XII Air Support Command, 21 Dec 1943

Under operational control of 64 Fighter Wing, 21 Dec 1943-Feb 1944

• AAF India-Burma Sector, c. 20 Feb 1944

Attached to CBI Air Forces Training Command, 5 Mar-14 Apr 1944

• Fourteenth Air Force, 15 Apr 1944
• 312 Fighter Wing, 11 May 1944
• Tenth Air Force, 24 Aug 1944-Nov 1945
• 70 Fighter Wing, 20 Aug 1946
• Strategic Air Command, 25 Aug 1947
• Eighth Air Force, 16 Sep 1947
• 33 Fighter (later, 33 Fighter-Interceptor) Wing, 5 Nov 1947-6 Feb 1952

Attached to 509 Bombardment Wing, 17 Nov 1947-15 Nov 1948

• 4707 Air Defense Wing, 18 Aug 1955
• 33 Fighter Wing, 18 Oct 1956-18 Aug 1957
• Pacific Air Forces, 19 Jun 1963
• 2 Air Division, 8 Jul 1963-8 Jul 1965
• 33 Fighter Wing, 1 Dec 1991-Present

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
• USAF 33d Fighter Group Factsheet

External links

[[Category:Groups of the United States Air Force|Operations 033]